There s no doubt that vintage Tissot watches represent great value. I liken them to downscale Omega watches in the same way that many VWs are similar to more expensive Audis. This translates to quality movements, cases, and designs at approachable prices. Today s Tissot Antimagnetique Pointer Date 6445 is a great example of an affordable and available vintage powerhouse.eBay is still my favorite hunting ground for vintage watches. Even though the extreme random bargains are now fewer and further between, great options still exist. Vintage Tissot is a category that consistently offers options on the popular platform with interesting pieces from the 40s and 50s. Specifically, I mean the Anti...

It is not a secret that we love our Speedmasters here at Fratello, and it s great to see (and talk to) others who share this passion for these amazing chronographs. A few months ago, I met with one of our readers, Arjun, and we talked about Speedmasters for a while. To me, one of the perks of this job is to talk about the things we love with like-minded people. After we met, Arjun decided to take some time to write his story and share it with all the readers here on Fratello. So, without further ado, here is his Speedmaster Odyssey as told in this collector s own words.Arjun s Speedmaster collectionTime Well Spent: My Speedmaster OdysseyMy personal journey to becoming an ardent Speedmaster f...

Norwegian independent watch brand Straum has once again proven its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction by launching pre-orders for its highly anticipated strap adaptors. These adaptors are the first release in the brand s extensive accessory product roadmap. They are specifically designed for the Jan Mayen collection, a model that has already garnered favorable feedback among the Fratello community. Indeed, the many Fratello Jan Mayen Limited Edition owners will attest to just that. But what exactly makes these strap adaptors a must-have for every Jan Mayen owner?The answer lies in their ability to marry form and function seamlessly. Traditionally, the Jan Mayen watch comes wi...

Fratello On Air is back with another rip-roaring episode! This week, our topic comes from one of our dear listeners and we talk about what like and dislike about working in the watch industry. It s a candid take on some of our favorite aspects with some that don t rate as highly. For those who wish to skip the banter, begin your journey after approximately 16 minutes.This podcast player is blocked because you did not accept marketing cookies. Change cookie settings The watch industry is a business like many others except that it entails one of our favorite subjects! While the good far outweighs the bad, there are some pestery facets. Today s episode focuses on what we like and dislike. O...

This past Sunday, the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games came to an end. Over 45,000 volunteers helped organize more than 300 events across 35 different venues. Over 10,000 athletes from 200 countries tried their best to win a gold medal in one of the 32 different sports. I think we can conclude that this 33rd edition of the Games was a true celebration of sport with a uniquely European (and distinctly French) flair. You won t be surprised to hear that Omega, the event s official timekeeper, played an important part for the 31st consecutive time.With its high-tech timekeeping technology, the Swiss watchmaker ensured the judges could determine clear winners without any confusion. But apart from ...

The Glashtte Original PanoMaticCalendar is a beautifully designed annual calendar. Today, we ll look closer at this 18-carat red gold beauty that blends functionality with an elegant layout. It features a stunning movement that s put on display on the flip side.Glashtte Original is a brand that brings back fond memories. I was in Chicago with my family over 20 years ago and recall visiting watch shops with my dad. The German brand was still relatively new to the US market, and ADs were scarce. We found one on Michigan Avenue, and my dad fell in love with the Navigator Senator with flyback seconds. Even then, the watch impressed me with its finishing and build quality. Today s watch is of t...

Grand Seiko is the unofficial master of finding inspiration in natural phenomena. Many of the brand s dials are crafted to resemble skies, waters, and landscapes found all over Japan-these two new USA-exclusive limited editions are no exception. The Grand Seiko SBGA507 s blue dial is inspired by the sky over Lake Suwa at dusk. In turn, the SBGA509 s red dial imitates that same sky at dawn.If you read that subtitle and thought you experienced a dej vu, you re not far off. It s not the first time Grand Seiko‘s designers have used Lake Suwa as a source of inspiration. Last year, the brand introduced both the titanium SLGA019 and stainless steel SLGA021, which had dials inspired by the la...

Look, Im a simple guy. Life is complicated enough, as are some of the finest watches in the world. Why the way you strap your watch onto your wrist also needs to be complicated eludes me. And when I say complicated, I mean anything other than the tried-and-tested, highly functional, and relatively simple pin buckle. I have experienced watches with folding buckles that were more complicated to understand and operate than the Haute Horlogerie creations they secured to my wrist. So, when I was asked to try out the Delugs Spring Deployant Clasp, I reacted with a frown. Was I the right man for the job? I decided to dump my prejudice and approached the deployant clasp with an open mind.Someone lea...

After Thomas kicked our new series of Fratello Favorites last Friday, I am the second in line to pick my favorites under $10K. As Thomas said, it s a budget that leaves you spoiled for choice. It s also the maximum budget that I would seriously consider when buying a watch. While there are plenty of new available models, of which I have picked three, I also highlighted some pre-owned picks. In today s market of rising new prices and lowering pre-owned prices, it would be almost sinful not to look at some remarkable picks from the past. So, let s jump straight in.Before we do, though, one article was more than enough to spoil some of the fun. Thomas was smart enough to pick a watch that most ...

Have you ever come across a watch brand that you had never heard about before but that immediately captivated you? The usual reaction is to go down the rabbit hole, devouring everything available online regarding the brand and its watches. This was my experience when I first heard about Fears. today, I finally managed to get my hands on one to satisfy the curiosity that my research had resulted in. The Bristol-based watch brand has an interesting catalog of designs, but this ice-cold Brunswick in 38mm could be my favorite.I have long been curious about the Fears brand and its watches. My Fratello colleagues,?Thor and Ben, have covered its releases extensively. It s one of those watchmakers t...

Welcome to another Sunday Morning Showdown! Today, we return to our regular program after last week s battle between two rather elegant and dressy chronographs. This week, we put the TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox up against Tudor s Black Bay Chrono. Both are vintage-inspired, automatic chronographs with a modern twist, and above all, they re stainless steel sports watches - a theme we thoroughly enjoy in our showdowns.The Tudor Black Bay Chrono?was introduced in 2021. It s available with a panda or reverse-panda dial. For this match, we ll focus on the silvery panda dial, which is most similar to the dial on?one of the newest additions?to?TAG Heuer‘s Carrera Glassbox collection. Get ready...

Audemars Piguet is back with three new Royal Oak Offshore models. All three bring differences including size, materials, and complications. The sporty, brash line within the Royal Oak family usually boasts outlandish design and bright coloring. If neither of those features is your bag, today s releases may tempt you.The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore in any guise is a curious beast. These incredibly popular watches appeal to those who enjoy wearing high-end luxury goods along with those who appreciate watchmaking. I ll be honest, my tastes typically run toward the normal Royal Oak. However, there s no denying the appeal of the Offshore for those who seek a more modern and casual alternat...

Watch hands are not just literally at the core of any watchs design. They are the functional heart of a watch, the final parts turning a complex mechanical chain into a time-telling device. As the primary point of focus when looking at a watch, they determine much of its looks. At the same time, they are hardly ever explicitly discussed. Therefore, this installment of Back to Basics digs deep into watch hand design.As always, Back to Basics is aimed at newcomers to our beautiful shared watch hobby. If thats you, I hope to open your eyes to the weight of watch hands in the overall aesthetic and function of a watch. They will never escape your attention again when evaluating a watch. I will no...

Another Friday, another list! After a little Olympic break last week, we continue our quest for the best watches released in the first half of 2024. This week, we will be discussing the best new GADA watches. Most of you will be familiar with the concept of a Go Anywhere, Do Anything watch, but what that translates to is highly personal. But we can definitely find five watches that we consider great all-rounders. And those are generally not the watches that get a lot of attention in these kinds of lists. It s precisely why we have created a Top 5 of our favorite GADA watches for this year s first six months.A GADA watch is a fun concept. It is not limited to one style of watch, but the descr...

The Manchester Watch Show, a highly anticipated event for watch enthusiasts and collectors, is set to take place on Saturday, November 9th, 2024, at the Halle St. Peter s. With its vibrant history and iconic architecture, Manchester provides the perfect backdrop for an event promising to showcase some of the best British watch brands. It s the first time we see a watch show of this level in the North of England. London usually gets all the fun here in the UK, but now it s Manchester s turn. Tickets for the Manchester Watch Show are on sale right now.The Watch Collector s Club is hosting the Manchester Watch Show. The club chose the prestigious Halle St Peter s for the event. For those unfami...

We are back with another series of Fratelli Favorites. After a few more accessible price points, we are now looking at the best watches under $10K - or, at least, our favorites under $10K since this will always be highly subjective. As is often the case, I get the honor of kicking things off, leaving me spoiled for choice.While I may have all the options open to me, I do find myself gravitating towards classics. I am sure some of you will find my picks boring, and perhaps they are. But I cannot help but long for these watches over more exotic choices. So, dont grill me, will you? Consider yourself warned. Now, lets dive in!Best watches under $10K - Pick #1: Submariner No-Date ref. 124060I r...

As a brand, Grand Seiko doesn t exactly skimp on annual new releases. Of course, many of the latest watches are dial variants, so we take extra notice when a completely new model debuts. The titanium SLGW003 Birch Bark was introduced earlier this year, and now we ve had the chance to put it through its paces.In April, Grand Seiko released the titanium SLGW003 Birch Bark alongside the 18-carat rose gold SLGW002. Thomas provided an overview of the models and was impressed. Today, we ll focus on the titanium SLGW003 and shed more light on the watch s finer details.The Grand Seiko SLGW003 Birch BarkThe Birch Bark is officially part of the Evolution 9 lineup, and that makes sense because it isn t...

The Alpina 10 Seastrong was on my shopping list for a long time. These watches are not easy to come by. They are not exactly rare, but they do not pop up for sale too often. What we can call rare is the specific model we ll be checking out today, which features a set of red hands. It has been four years since I got my hands on it, and the reason for their red tone is still a mystery.I have a very fond relationship with the Alpina 10 Seastrong. My first Alpina 10 came from an original owner, and I didn t even bother to change the crystal. It was listed for sale by Claes, a Swedish man, on behalf of his 72-year-old friend, Larson, who doesn t own a computer. I had no clue about this story befo...

All eyes are on Paris this summer as the city hosts the Summer Olympics. But today, it s not the XXXIII Olympiad that has caught our attention. Instead, it was the watch on the wrist of someone in the crowd minding their own business and enjoying the games. That someone happens to be Daniel Craig, former James Bond actor, Omega ambassador, and infamous wearer of unreleased watches.It was the sharp eye of the folks at?Gear Patrol that first spotted what appeared to be a black-dialed Omega Seamaster Professional 300M on a mesh strap with no date window. At a glance, you might have mistaken it for a titanium NTTD Seamaster, or maybe even the James Bond 60th Anniversary model. However, the pictu...

I have just returned from my summer holidays (in Austria), where I brought a handful of watches to wear. Typically, I travel as light as possible. Especially when leaving the EU, I try to bring one watch to prevent problems with customs. This time, staying within the EU, I brought four watches with me: the Omega Speedmaster Professional, the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321, the Sea-Dweller, and my Omega Seamaster PloProf 1200M on an orange rubber strap.The latter always goes with me on holidays because its a fun watch and you can wear it in the pool (or sea). This article isnt about the watches to bring on your holiday, but just a selection to wear during the summer at three very different pr...